Motion-picture apparatus and camera



Nov. z5, '1924,'.

r 41,516,496 F. H. OWENS Mor-Ion PICTURE APPARATUS AND- ICAMERA I FiledApri 2.9. "1921 Y SSheet's-Shtdf! A LCM@ l@ um qNvNToR v MX@ ATTORNEYNav. 2s, 1924. 1,516,496-

f F. H, owl-:Ns

MOTION P ICTURE APPARAT'S AND CAMERA Fund April 29 "1921 v sheets-shun.2'

` .l INVENToR Maag-)01km A I v ATTORNEY v i Nav. 25 1924- F. H. OWENS`MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS AND CAMERA Filedv April 29./ 1 921 ssheets-shan 3 l i INVE'NTOR @lf/67m.

m5 ATTORNEY A 4Patented Nov. 25, 1324,

UNITEofs-TATES' vrammen fn. OWENS,

oFN'nw Yonx, N. fr.

'MorIoN-rIcTURE ArrARATUs A ND CAMERA.

Application iled April 29,' 1921. Serial No. 465,405.

To all'wtom t may concern: y

Be it known that I, FREEMAN H: 'OWENs,

the structure used effectively for either of these purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of thischaracter whichwill embody a shutter which is common tothe cameramechanism `and projector mechanism, the same being of a design wherebyAit .will operate'as a dissolving,means at the time of the picture changeand which will be adjustable to vary the duration of exposure when thestructureis used 'as a\ cinematofgraph camera.

' A further object ofthe invention is to provide a structure of thischaracter wherein use of a shutter v is made,f the same serving inthethree foldcapalcity, (l means for dissolving the light at the -picturechange, 2) means for'varyng the duration of exposure .by regulating thesize of the shutter opening when the same is used as a cinematographcamera, and 3) 'means for operatively moving a perforated film or tapeacross the lens or exposure' aperture.'- i

Another object of the invention is tov provide a structure of thischaracter includinga casing having magaiines 'constructed and designedto automatically adapt themselves to the coiled tendency. of the filmends and which will serve toA permit the lilm to be drawn from one ofsuch magazines -to the other and utilize the inherent resiliency of thefilm or tape to coil itself automatically as the tape is moved acrossthe projector or exposure apertura p Another object of the invention' isto provide a mechanism of this character in which use ismade of ashutter and means controlled directly by the action of the shutter to`lock the film or vtape against movement with respect tothe apertureduring the taking of pictures or at the time of projection thereof,these two instrumentalities of the mechanism co-acting to release thefilm and to permit the Asame to be successively or intermittently drawnacrossl the aperture.

f A still further object of the invention is to provide la mechanism ofvthis character which will employ a novel form'of' film pack adapted tobe conveniently placed in one of the magazines ofthe device and theunexposed ihn unloaded conveniently and associated with the shutter andsprocket mechanism so that it can be drawn across'the ex posureaperture.

A still further object of the invention is' to provide a structure ofthis character which will be extremelv compact, neat in design andappearance and capable of being reduced to a size 'whereby the same canibe readily carried upon the person "or n the pocket; one which will beinexpensive'of manufacture, and highly effective both as a cinematographlcamera and as a picture projector.- I

With the above and other objects in view whichrwill appear as the natureof theinvention is better understood, the same c onsists in the improvedconstruction and novel arrangements of partswhich will hereinaf` ter befully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, has been illustrated, a single andpreferred form of the inventiomit being, however, understood that nolimitations are necessarily made to the precise structural detailstherein eX- hibited, but that changes, alterations and modificationswithin the scope of the claims4 mav be resorted to when desired. f fFigure 1v is a vertical section-through the structure showing the sameadjusted as a cinemat'ograph camera.

Figure 2 is a section therethrough taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.- iFigure 3 is a diagram in side elevation vshowing the structure adjustedfor use as a projector.

Figure 4 is a side elevation on a smaller scale of the structure. Figure5 is a top' plan view showing the finder. i

ilm pack showing the same in its normal or loaded condition.

Figure 9 is a similarI view with the pack 10 unloaded.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the apparatus showing a slightlymodified form of the invention. V

In carrying the invention into practice,

.15 use is made of a casing or receptacle 11 which is closed at one sideas at 12 andopen at its other side as at 13 and provided with a hingedclosure 14 for covering said open side. In the receptacle are filmmagazines 2() 15 and 16, and an intermediate chamber 17.

The magazines 15 and 16 are closedN at one side by the wall 12 of thecasing and at the opposite side by the hinged closure 14. Thisconstruction provides means wherebyaccess `can be quickly gained toeither of said magazines for the purpose of applying the ilm A or tapeor removing the same. Each of said magazines 15 and 16 is ofsubstantially circular formation and as illustrated I do not `1&0 employany fixed axes or spindles for supporting a film or tape in saidmagazines. l am relying. solely upon the circular formay tion of thesemagazines and inherent resiliency of the film yor tape for operativelyunvceiling the same from one magazine and coil ing the same in the othermagazine. In `speaking of the resiliency of a film or tape, it is ofcourse understood that I intendv using Celluloid or a similar orvsuitablevwell known composition of matter forthe production of a filmwhich will be suitablel for this purpose. In a comparatively smalllength of celluloid film, there is a tendency toward the same compactlyceiling intoa small roll and it is this common `functioning of the filmwhich I desire to utilize in connection with a structure. of the typeshown in my accom# panying drawings.v This, however, does not mean thatI cannot employ this principle in vmachines adapted to accommodate ilmso f fmaXimum length. I am positive from actual practice that inreasonably short lengths, say twenty to thirty or forty feet, there isthat inherent tendency of the windings' of the Vrlli'tape to becomeclosely associated in'tight coil formation.` There isvless draw and wearand tear upon a iilm when the ends are not supported upon revolving or'permanently locked spindles or axes and this is one of 50 the featuresof my invention with which I am particularly concerned as will beappreciated upon reference tofthe appended claims in this application.

The wall 12 is provided with an aperture 18, the same positioned in linewith a similar aperture 19 in the wall 20 of the chamber 17. 'Iheseapertures may be'covered against outside light by means of a suitableclosure 21. A further purpose of this closure 21 will appear as thenature of the invention is better understood. It can be said at thispoint,

however, that when the closure is adjusted as tures 18 and 19 and formedin the front wall 12a of the casing 11 is a rectangular aperture 23adapted to receive a lens carrier 21. This carrier is grooved at 25 soas to-engage with the upper and lower edge walls of the aperture 211 asshownin Figure 1, sufficient play being allowed between the parts so asto permit the carrier to be curved upward and withdrawn from saidaperture. It is opera# tively retained in the aperture by a plurality ofleaf springs 26 which are in yielding engagement with the inner face ofthe wall 12a when the carrier is applied. A link 27 on the carrier is'slidablp 1n a bail 28 on said wall 12, the construction alsoconstituting a hinge so that when the carrier is moved upward in saidaperture 23 and then released so l In horizontal alignment with theapen' from the walls thereof, it can be swung with the bail 28 and link27 as a pivot.

Mounted to revolve in the chamber 17 i-s a combined shutter and sprocketmechanism 29, the same consisting of telescopic sections 30, 31 and 32,conjointly presenting a substantially barrelslike formation. The

telescopic arrangement of these sections is such that they can beadjusted to produce diametric'ally opposite openings 33 and 34, andthese openings can be used so as to vary the duration' of exposurel whenthe struc- When used as a projector, the'shutter operture is used as acinematograph camera.

ates to obliterate the lens at the picture change and to Vdissolve'thelight effectively. The section 30 is provided at 'diametrically oppositepoints with sprocket teeth 35 and 36 adapted to engage in the marginalopenings 37 -in the film 38. Thisshutter is provided with side disks 39and 40, the former having a trunnion 41 journaled in a bearing aperture42 in the wall 12 and the latter having a trunnion 43 journaled' in anaperture ill-'in thev wall 45 of the chamber 17. The sections 31 and 32of the shutter are pivoted to the disks 39 and el() by pins same can beretained by the action of friction. The section 30 of the shutterispreferably fixed to the saiddisks 39 and.40.

The wal120 of the chamber 17 is provided witha perforation 47 whichreceives a locking pin 48 on a spring arm 49. .The pin.

47 normally projects into the space` 22 be- -tweenthe apertures 18 and19 and the same is adapted to engage with the sprocket hole in the film.The spring arm'is provided with a projection 50 which co-acts with thecam-like periphery 51 of the disk 40, said cam-likeperiphery havingrecesses 52 therein adapted to accommodate the projection 50 and releasethe pin 48 from the perforations in the film. The positions of the re-`cesses 52 are arranged with regard to theV j shutter mechanism so thatwhen the sprocket teeth 35' and 36 come into play, the-pin 48 will bereleased-from the film. As soon as the sprocket teeth pass the filmopen-I ings,- the parts 53 of said peripheral surface of the disk 40operate to maintain connement of thepin 48 with the film. ThisI holdsthe film operatively framed in the exposure or projection apertures. Theother disk 39 is provided with ratchet; teeth 54,

vthe same co-acting with a dog 55. `This detent arrangement holds theshutter Amechanism against retrograde rotation.

The trunnion 4l projects beyondv the wall 12 and the same is providedwith a passage -56 in vwhich the branch 57 ofa crank arm 58 slides. Saidbranch. is nrovidedwith a pin 59 which is adjustable respectively intolocking branches 60 and 61 -in said trunnion.- When the crank handle i'sturned to cause )its pin 59 to ,engage in the recess 60, the crankhandleisheld in the full line position. When -thepin 59 is adjusted into therecess 61, the crank handle assumes the dotted line position. f The pinis retained in either of said recesses 60and 61 by-means of a spring 62which surrounds the branch 57 and 'arranged between the trunnion 41 anda fixed lug 63 on said `branch 57.

The iinder 64 comp-rises a bail 65 mounted to swing upon the lenscarrier 24. The bail normally comprises said lens carrier but thel sameis adapted to be adjusted to the position shown in Figure 5 and toco-act with a sight piece 66 which is Ahinged at 67 to the closure 21.Any suitable wellknown finder can be used in connection with theapparatus when employed as a cinematograph camera.

When the apparatus is used as a camera, i preferablyV employ a film pack68 .which comprises a,`cylindrical-like receptacle 69, provided withtangential walls 70 and v71.

- These' walls are lined with plush strips 72 and 7 8 respectively and`these constitute a chute through which the filmis adapted to pass as itleaves the pack. The film 74 shown in Figure 8 is wound into a tightbetween the two terminals of the light vexcoil and it is normally heldin the loop 75 of a light excluding strip 76. One end of this strip ispassed in a downward direction against the plush strip 73 and it is thencurved over the wall 71 and pasted orotherwise suitably secured theretoat 77. The opposite terminal 78 of the light excluding strip extendsagainst the plush strip 72 land the same is then turned angularly at 79and: pasted orotherwise secured .at 80 tothe periphery. This -manner ofextending the last terminal of the light excluding strip. against thereceptacle and against the edges 81 ofthe web walls 82 of saidrecep.-

tacle makes p-rovision for a. seal at the discharge end of the pack. Theseal is destructible' and whenjdestroyed access can be gained to theV-sub-chamberi83 of the pack.

The front terminal 'of the film is sandwiched y cluding strip andseveralwindings 'of the film are normally housed in said sub-chamber 83as shown` at` 84. in Figure 8. The

light excluding strip may be formed of black paper orany othersuitablewell knowii material which canl be conveniently destroyed whenit is desired tousethe film for photographic purposes. After the seal is'broken the loop 75 is separated from the windings of the film and saidwindings have'a tendency to expand into the main chamber 85 of the packstructure. The construction of the film pack is such that it conformswith the shape of the magazine 15'Qand when the cover 14 is opened, saidpack can be readily inserted in said magazine. The free end of the filmis then guided down between the apertures 18 and 19 and after it isexposed, it is guided'into the receiving magazine 16.`

lens system 86 and when used as a projecting apparatus, it co-operateswith a; condenser 87 adapted to bearranged at the back of the apertures18 and 19 when'the closure 21 is lifted' or adjusted to the po- `sitionshown in Figure 3.' rlhe condenser l87 is combined with a lamp 88 sothat a beam of light will be projected through the i aperturesand-'through the film.

When the apparatus is used in this manner it may be placed a suitabledistance pictures in mot-ion nac lf desired, the lens lcarrier 24 can bedetached and by raising the closure 21 so as to permit day light topassinto the aperturesl 105. The lens carrier f 24 is provided with a 18 and19, the pictures in motion can be seen by merely looking through theaperture 25.

While I have herein fully shown and described and have pointed out inthe appended claims certain novel features of construction, arrangementand operation which characterize my invention, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various omissions, substitutions andchanges in the forms, proportions, sizes and details of the structure,of the'materials used, and of their operation, may be made withoutdeparting from my invention.

What is 'claimed as new is zl. In an apparatus of the class described,a. receptacle having a detachable lens, one wall of the receptaclehaving an apertiire therein, a combined sprocket and shutter operatingbetween the aperture and 'said lens, and nreans co-acting' with saidcombined shutter and sprocket for arresting Amovement of a film acrosssaid aperture.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a receptacle having a frameaperture and a cylindrical shutter operating at one'side of saidaperture and provided with diametrically disposed openings and means onthe shutter for moving a iilm across said aperture, a toothed surfaceforming part of said shutter and means co-acting with'the surface forholding the shutter against retro grade rotation.

3. In an apparatus of the class described,

a receptacle having aligned apertures, a lens structure associated withone of said apertures, a combined sprocket and shutter operating betweenboth apertures, the other aperture operating to permit of the passagethereacross of a film strip, means on the shutter and means disposedwith respect to said other aperture and co-acting with the means of saidshutter for arresting movement of the film strip with respect to saidother aperture.

4.-. In an apparatus of the class described, a receptacle having a lens,one wall of' the receptacle; having an aperture therein, a combinedsprocket and shutter operating between the aperture and said lens, andmeans coaeting with said combined shutter and sprocket for arrestingmovement of a filmacross sai aperture.rv

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, this28th day of April, 1921.

FREEMAN H. OWENS.

